Apple faces a patent lawsuit in the EU over its FaceTime Eye Contact feature, which digitally corrects a user's gaze to appear looking directly at the camera. The suit was filed in the Unified Patent Court by EyesMatch, a patent-holding company, alleging infringement of European patent EP2,936,439, which covers gaze-correction technology for video calls.

EyesMatch has a history of similar actions, having previously settled with Microsoft and Samsung over the same patent. The company also sued Nvidia. For Apple, the risk isn't just a potential payout but the threat of an injunction in key European markets like France, Germany, and Italy, which could disrupt the feature's availability for millions of users.

The patent, granted in 2020 and valid until 2033, describes a method for adjusting a user's eyes in captured images. While Apple could choose to fight, the history of settlements suggests it might opt for a licensing deal to avoid costly litigation and potential sales bans. The outcome could set a precedent for other AR features in Apple's ecosystem.